Yorkshiresaid

DNWsaid

What’s interesting is that this is the engine @ 2000 hp that beat the Zero, that gave the American planes the hp to out climb and out race the Japanese. The only fighter I see there is the Thunderbolt.

But my understanding is that the Grumman F6F used the same engine.

It was that plane, more than the P-38 Lightening or the Corsair, which the designer of the Zero, in a book published under the same name, said constituted an overall one on one qualitative superiority over the Zero judged on the Zero’s own terms.

That is his claim, not mine.

His claim was that the Japanese inability to build a 2,000 hp power plant of acceptable weight was what, more than most other things, caused their failure to hold their own.

DNWsaid

My remark above, as was the original author’s, was meant to be construed narrowly, and applies of course only to fighter planes judged on their ability as effective interceptors, and especially, dog fighters.

The general topic of Japan’s technological blunders and miscalculations and challenges during WWII, is another matter entirely.

Since I’m not a history or war “buff”, I’ll leave that discussion, if any, to others.

Ericsaid

The Japanese planes were generally more maneuverable, but the American planes more rugged. A few bullets in the right place could bring down a Zero or set it ablaze if you hit the fuel tanks. Americans invented self-sealing tanks and put armor plate behind the pilot. This added weight, but improved survivability.